Buses carrying Kashmiri Pandits to annual pilgrimage to Kheer Bhawani Temple located in Tulmulla area got stuck in stone pelting. They were on their way from Jammu to the annual fair that is held at Kheer Bhawani temple. She is the main deity of Kashmiri Pandits.

As reported in the Hindi daily Dainik Jagran, on Monday, 18th June 2018, the buses were attacked late in evening when they were about to reach the temple. No casualties were reported but window glasses of a bus got broken. Then the pilgrims were transported safely to the temple in Sumo cars.

Around 5000 Kashmiri Pandit pilgrims in 72 buses were flagged off from Jammu. Some left in their private vehicles as well. Stones were pelted at around 9:15 PM.

Relief Commissioner, Jammu, MK Raina said that they got the news that stones were pelted in Mir Bazaar area since evening. Amidst this, the buses crossed that area and a few got hit by the stones. He said the buses carrying the pilgrims were not the target. Vehicles were sent with strong security arrangement. All pilgrims are safe and around 3000 of them reached Kheer Bhawani by night. The fair has been organised at three more places and many pilgrims have reached there as well.

Station Incharge of Kheer Bhawani, Salfia Arshad has also reaffirmed that pilgrims were not the target of stone pelters but this incident of stone pelting on those buses by some people cannot be ruled out completely.

The annual fair at Maa Kheer Bhawani Temple began from Tuesday evening.

Mata Kheer Bhawani Yatra Bus, carrying Kashmiri Pandits from Jammu were attacked by coward stone pelters last night in Gandarbal, Kashmir. Where is national media, where are our fav journalists, where is Not in my Name gang. #StonePelterspic.twitter.com/dpkGpJPe7m